MUS3043 : Performance Art/Performance Theory (Inactive)

Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 1 Credit Value: 10
Semester 2 Credit Value: 10
ECTS Credits: 10.0
European Credit Transfer System

Aims

To introduce the ideas, repertory, creators, and history of postmodern performance art, especially as they relate to Music.

To introduce a range of current performance theory, especially in relation to performance art and musical performance.

To enable students to pursue a research project on a performance art topic of their choice.

Original Summary:
Performance art is a late twentieth-century phenomenon with roots in experimental theatre, dance, music, and film, an older roots in theatre and opera. This course will focus on some of the kinds of performance art that grew up in the 1960s and 1970s, and which have continued through to the present day, considering the work of such people as Meredith Monk, Robert Wilson, Laurie Anderson, Diamanda Galas, David Wojnarowicz, Robert Ashley, and others.
A great deal of performance theory has been published in the past two decades. Various strands of recent writings will supply substantial readings for the course. As performance art is an intermedia genre, discussions will tangentially connect to dance, theatre, minimalism, conceptual art, late 20th century opera and music theatre, postmodernism, hybridization, and gender theory. We will also connect late 20th-century performance art with some of the earlier experiments that led toward it, including futurism, Bauhaus, Dada, Cage, Fluxus, and happenings.

Outline Of Syllabus

Lectures will develop in to discussions; weekly readings will be required, as well as a great deal of music listening and periodic screenings of videos. Projects will be led up to by periodic coursework including: a proposal, bibliography, outline, and class presentation. The final written project is due in the assessment period.
It is possible to interface the materials and discussions of this course with the practical activities of the course in music theatre taught by Bennett Hogg. Practical activities will be acceptable as part of the final project, but may not completely replace written work and documentation; any such work must be approved in advance by the Module Leader.

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture182:0036:00N/A
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study1164:00164:00N/A
Total200:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lectures allow for the presentation of relevant works, key texts and ideas; discussion within each meeting, in connection with lecture portions, enables critical discussion of written, recorded and video examples, together with the applicable theories. In selected meetings, participants will give presentations on a variety of topics, which act as springboards for discussion. One-to-one tutorials are available on request to help students choose a project topic and organise their research, and to monitor their progress with it. A large amount of private study time is required for reading, listening, and preparation of assignments and presentations.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Essay2A804,000 words
Portfolio2A20There will be a number of small assessments set throughout the year to monitor progress and preparation for final essay
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The project will require students to apply knowledge of the module's content through independent research, skills involved in creating each of the preparatory sections for the paper, and the development of a coherent argument. All coursework will be graded and submitted as evidence of engagement with the material of the course both during class and in private study. A satisfactory level of engagement must also be demonstrated for you to receive the full mark awarded to your final project.

Reading Lists

Timetable